On November 5, National Immigration Administration (NIA) said at a press conference that it cracked a major case where criminals organized people to secretly cross the national border (boundary). According to NIA, it worked with relevant departments under the Ministry of Public Security and organized Yunnan Provincial General Station of Exit-Entry Frontier Inspection and public security organs in 25 provinces, autonomous regions or municipalities to operate in more than 60 cities and regions, and completed the unified operation at the same time, successfully cracking the "January 24" major case of organization and transportation of individuals to illegally cross the border (boundary).

So far, police have filed 573 cases (including 124 criminal cases and 449 administrative cases) for investigation, seized 1,292 offenders of whom 593 are prosecuted for criminal liability and 699 are given administrative penalties, destroyed 38 hideouts used to hide and transit people illegally crossing the border and seized 108 vehicles and ships. They have also frozen 26 bank accounts and CNY 1.7481 million of funds used for smuggling and seized 62.13 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The operation busted in one effort a number of criminal gangs and their ringleaders that formed a large crime network active on China's southwest border and in border areas of adjacent countries. They colluded with each other to illegally organize and transport Chinese citizens into and out of the country and engaged in telecom fraud, online gambling, drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes. All of these represent great achievements.

According to NIA officials, this case is a major cross-border criminal case that has the largest number of arrested suspects, the widest coverage of regions, the largest criminal network, the most complicated criminal chain and multiple types of crimes. Directed by NIA, the operation was joined by different police categories in different places and utilized a model of “commanded by the Ministry of Public Security and relevant bureaus, investigation mainly led by one province, case filed in multiple places, combating through cluster operations and wave-based tactics". Through the integration of police resources of different levels and types, it adhered to the principle of busting criminal gangs, cutting off channels, breaking criminal chains and destroying criminal networks, encompassed prudent and comprehensive measures including clue verification, interrogation and investigation, and extended combating to end the operation simultaneously at home and abroad. All crimes were thwarted in one effort, both criminal and administrative penalties were employed, combat and punishment measures were taken to wipe out channels of illegal immigration within and outside China, achieving favorable results in crime fighting and ruling of law, and demonstrating a positive impact on the society.

According to statistics, since the Ministry of Public Security launched an operation targeting crimes that disrupt border management in December 2020, the authorities nationwide have resolved 14,973 criminal cases and arrested 35,777 suspects and 36,921 people who entered or exited the country illegally, which are 2.2 times, 2.7 times and 3.3 times higher respectively compared to the same period last year; busted 523 criminal gangs and 167 places used to organize illegal immigration; seized 1,549 vehicles and ships, and punished 514 illegal agencies and employers.

Next, NIA will continue the strict prevention and fight against such crimes with emphasis on crackdown and the adoption of targeted measures, spare no efforts to investigate major cases, prioritize the hunt-down for fugitives, trace the origins of crimes, crush crimes and punish criminals to safeguard national political security and maintain the security and stability at the border.

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